Ethiopian Army seizes Somali town from radical Islamic militants

A 3,000 strong force of Ethiopian troops has crossed the border and seized the Somali town of Beledwayene from Al-Shabaab militants.

Ethiopian soldier

The assault came after the Somali government announced a fresh offensive against the militants and called on neighbouring countries to aid them "to liberate the tyranny of Al-Shabaab".

In a statement the Somali government said:

"We are officially requesting the international community and the neighboring countries like Ethiopia to stand on our shoulders and help the Somali people and their government for the historic operation to liberate the country from this brutal terror group"

The Somali National Army is also said to be engaged in fierce fighting with the militants in the Hiiraan disctrict.

Earlier the radical Islamic insurgents claimed that their fighters repelled three Ethiopian assaults on the city before eventually a "planned withdrawal" took place. "Mujahideen are now surrounding the city" reported the organisations press office.

The militants have also claimed to have killed 54 Ethiopian troops in the city but have not released any information on their own casualties. They also claimed that troops had shelled civilian areas of the city and that residents of Beledwayne had joined with them to fight against the Ethiopian and Somali forces.

Control of Beledwayne, a key commercial centre, has changed control numerous times in recent months as various insurgent groups have fought to gain control of it. The Al-Shabaab group currently controls most of southern Somalia.